The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Wed, December 11, 2019 | 20:11
Opposition Leadership Race Taking Shape
Posted : 2008-05-04 17:00
Updated : 2008-05-04 17:00
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

The July 6 voting to select the lineup for the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) leadership will be between a managerial leader and the reformative one.

Fourth-term lawmaker Chung Sye-kyun, 58, who is widely viewed as a leader with strong managerial skills, is expected to make a bid for the party chairman post.

Third-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, 50, a female reformative figure, will challenge Chung's leadership ambition.

Earlier, incumbent Party Co-Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu said he would not run for the position to take responsibility for the April 9 election results.

Chung, a former chairman of the Uri Party, a predecessor of the UDP, is a moderate, liberal leader. He enjoys wide support from all factions inside the party.

The main opposition party won 81 parliamentary seats out of 299 in the April 9 elections. The figure was considered a de facto defeat as more than 200 lawmakers-elect are conservatives.

``I do not think 81 lawmakers is too small a number to lead legislative moves in parliament. In my experience, we could achieve many things with them,'' he said in an interview.

The former Uri Party chairman said that the opposition parties currently have no clear vision and are just trying to hold back the ruling party, and this will lose support from the general public.

Chung said his position on the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States was conditional approval, meaning that he would approve it once the government maps out effective adjustment programs for farmers and other victims.

His likable counterpart Choo is a third-term lawmaker who successfully made her parliamentary bid in the April 9 election in Gwangjin, Seoul after she lost in the 2004 election.

With an impressive victory, she is one of a few UDP lawmakers who survived the election in the capital.

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) swept the Seoul campaigns, winning 40 parliamentary seats among 48.

Choo, a reformative politician, said the urgent task facing the UDP was to reunite liberals so that it could transform itself into a small but effective opposition party.

She said a poor campaign was responsible for the party's loss of supporters in Seoul. Choo also said the UDP should not be a small party representing the narrow interests of a particular region (referring to the southwestern Jeolla Provinces).

A recent poll said Choo led the UDP race with 23.7 percent of the popular vote among citizens, followed by Chun Jung-bae (10.2 percent) and Chung (7.3 percent).

Political observers said it is not fair to say Choo has more of a chance to win the race than other candidates, as the UDP has not decided the details of the voting yet.

Chun said in a recent interview that he has yet to decide whether or not to run for the party leadership.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr








 
 
  • number164 Vietnamese students vanish in South Korea
  • numberVoluntary departure: Re-entry to be allowed for illegal aliens who leave Korea by June
  • numberSeoul's home prices to continue on upward spiral
  • numberAir pollution chokes South Korea [PHOTOS]
  • numberKorean's first-ever Filipino street food tour at QUIAPO MARKET in Manila [VIDEO]
  • numberEx-Daewoo Group Chairman Kim Woo-choong dies at 82
  • numberFootwear malfunction in front of Kim Il-sung
  • numberMoon to hold summits with Xi, Abe
  • numberUltrafine dust rising to 'very bad' levels in Seoul
  • numberDaughter of Herald ex-head gets suspended jail term for drug use
  • Kim Gun-mo accused of rape Kim Gun-mo accused of rape
  • TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans
  • TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim
  • Yang Joon-il, a musician living ahead of his time, finally recognized 30 year later Yang Joon-il, a musician living ahead of his time, finally recognized 30 year later
  • U2 says 'women of the world unite' in Korea U2 says 'women of the world unite' in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Children deserve better

    Children deserve better

  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright